Mums of disabled kids hit back over cuts to funding

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Single mother Debbie Matthews has gone into debt as a result of
the NSW Government's decision to cut funding to education programs
for disabled young adults.

To keep her daughter, Leanne, in a five-day care program, Ms
Matthews has been forced to borrow $3500.

The loan she has taken out will cover the shortfall created by
the Government's April funding cuts. As a result of the shortfall,
Leanne, who has Down syndrome and needs full-time care, would have
been able to attend the program only three days a week.

But when the loan money runs out in 14 weeks' time, Ms Matthews
will be forced to pay the shortfall directly out of her salary,
leaving her with just $70 a fortnight after paying the rent on
their Holsworthy home.

Ms Matthews is one of the 2000 families seriously affected by
the decision in July last year to cut funding to post-school day
programs.

The cuts, of up to $8000 a person a year, are likely to force
young adults with disabilities to spend more time at home rather
than receive education and stimulation at the classes.

The announcement sparked a backlash among parents, with vocal
rallies held outside Parliament House. The continuing protests
prompted a NSW Upper House inquiry last week, and parents have
taken some hope from reports that the Minister for Disability
Services, John Della Bosca, might be reconsidering the cuts.

The director-general, Brendan O'Reilly, appeared at the inquiry
and admitted that the reforms had caused anxiety, said Suzanne
Becker, general manager of Windgap Foundation, a disability program
provider. Ms Becker said that the Government had been caught off
guard by the strong response from families across NSW.

"I believe John Della Bosca is listening to people's concerns,"
she said. "It is not just the disability sector that it impacts on.
The rest of the community is affected by one rather rushed
decision."

Ms Matthews, who gave evidence at the inquiry, said it was
crucial that Leanne attended the programs for her education and
socialisation.

The program also allows Ms Matthews to continue her full-time
job as a secretary. "I call work my respite," Ms Matthews said. "It
lets me socialise and talk to other adults."

But she is worried that she may be forced to resign from the job
she has held for 15 years to take care of Leanne herself if the
funding is not restored soon. "I have even looked into declaring
myself bankrupt," she said. "It's really scary the things you look
into."

Faced with the funding cuts, some charitable disability
organisations such as Windgap are covering the shortfall
themselves, at a cost of about $60,000 a year.

"We are doing this while the mess gets sorted out, but it's not
a long-term solution," Ms Becker said.

Disability service provider Challenge Armidale has also resisted
introducing the cuts to its services.

Its general manager, Kevin Mead, said that "families have enough
stress in their lives" without having to deal with the cuts. "We
want to believe that things will turn around," he said.

While Mary Lou Carter's severely intellectually disabled son
Nicholas is only 14 and still at school, she is fearful about his
future.

She was hoping that he would move smoothly into post-school
programs but is not sure that she will be able to afford the rising
costs of care.

Ms Carter is worried that she will be forced to quit her
full-time job and care for Nicholas at home when it comes time for
him to leave school.

"What they do at the day programs is really an extension of what
they did at school," she said. "A number of mothers in this
situation feel trapped."